FabSwingers.com forum: Tipping etiquette

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Just trying to look around for a location for a holiday and looking at various costs etc.

Someone (wisely) said to me not to forget to take into account the cost of tipping.

For example in the States I've been reading that tips of around 20% of the bill are expected in restaurants / food establishments with a table service and a tip of 'only' 10% is seen as an indicator of poor service!

Now over here I tend to tip around 10% if I get good service - if I get poor service then the tip will be zero! It almost seems crazy if I've had poor service that I indicate this with 'only' a 10% tip!

For tour guides etc the expectation is 15-20% on top so if you're going away for a couple of weeks all these tips add up and can add a significant amount to the overall cost so I'm having to think long and hard about my holiday budget now!

Now I know base wages are low and the tips all add up to pay a 'living' wage but how do people feel about tipping in general? Are you a tipper? Do you tip over and above any 'service charges' applied? What sort of % do you feel is reasonable?

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By *rightonsteveMan
over a year ago

Brighton - even Hove!

I don't like tipping. They get paid for doing their job. No one tips me if I do my job well. Saying that, I add 10% if it's good service and zilch if the service was lousy. I usually tell them too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I tip wherever it's socially acceptable to do so. I once stayed at the Waldorf Astoria and had spent $30 before I'd unpacked. It does get a little ridiculous.

I've also refused to pay service charges due to poor service. I guess it still needs to be earned in my mind.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Tipping is a minefield.you tip the waiter for bringing you your food,yet the cook or chef that made it,do they get a tip?

You tip your taxi driver for getting you to your destination,but do you tip the bus driver or the train driver?

The maid that tidied your room may well get a tip,or the bellboy that carried your suitcases,but what about the receptionist that sorted your accommodation?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I will tip whenever I feel it's necessary and I will tip the amount I feel appropriate.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Tipping is a minefield.you tip the waiter for bringing you your food,yet the cook or chef that made it,do they get a tip?

You tip your taxi driver for getting you to your destination,but do you tip the bus driver or the train driver?

The maid that tidied your room may well get a tip,or the bellboy that carried your suitcases,but what about the receptionist that sorted your accommodation?"

You're not considering basic pay and the difference between the roles.

However, some companies do pool gratuities.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As an American, I feel like this thread is going to be a minefield for me

Having said that, in the US, I always tip 15% (which is easily calculated by doubling the tax and rounding up, in most places). 20%, to me, is exceptional and only if the service was superb. I have, very rarely, not tipped because of awful service, and yes, the waiter did question me as to why I didn't tip.

British people and Europeans always make me laugh a little when they talk about tipping. He average dinner in the US is far cheaper, even adjusting for currency rates, than a dinner in the UK or Europe. A lot of the reason for that is because waiters are exempt from minimum wage laws in most states - they get paid as little as $2.45 an hour because tips are expected to make up the difference in their hourly wage.

You can argue that the laws are unfair, and you would be right. But they are what they are and whenever you spend an hour or two in a restaurant in the US, and don't tip on principle, you should realize the impact you are having on that person's life.

-Courtney

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By *eMontresMan
over a year ago

Halesowen

Employers should pay at least minimum wage. Thus I do not generally hold with tipping at all. I've worked minimum wage jobs in the past and not been, nor expected to be tipped.

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By *iamondjoeMan
over a year ago

Glastonbury

Do as you please - you're English, we're notoriously poor tippers.

Tip for good service and don't for crappy service.

Simples.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Employers should pay at least minimum wage. Thus I do not generally hold with tipping at all. I've worked minimum wage jobs in the past and not been, nor expected to be tipped."

If you read my post you'll see that in the US waiters don't have to, and usually aren't, paid minimum wage....

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By *iamondjoeMan
over a year ago

Glastonbury

"British people and Europeans always make me laugh a little when they talk about tipping. He average dinner in the US is far cheaper, even adjusting for currency rates, than a dinner in the UK or Europe.

Which is why the food is sooooo cheap d'oh!

And some of it is absolute crap tbh, Weatherspoon's style but piles of it.

A starter will do me fine, thanks

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By *anchestercubMan
over a year ago

manchester & NI

I tip for a lot of things, usually those that include a personal service, hairdresser, cab driver, delivery men if it's something big and bulky.

But then when I worked in retail when I was a student I gave a personal service oftentimes too but it would never occur to me to expect or pay a tip for a retail service.

In the US there are 2 types of minimum wage, the 'real' minimum wage and the minimum tipped wage.

A lot of staff who work in restaurants and hotels work for a tipped minimum wage (which is very low) and so they rely on tips to make up their wages.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Which is why the food is sooooo cheap d'oh!

And some of it is absolute crap tbh, Weatherspoon's style but piles of it.

A starter will do me fine, thanks

I realize why it is cheaper. And yes, a lot of it is crap, but then, so is a lot of the food in the UK and Europe

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By *iamondjoeMan
over a year ago

Glastonbury

Which is why the food is sooooo cheap d'oh!

And some of it is absolute crap tbh, Weatherspoon's style but piles of it.

A starter will do me fine, thanks

I realize why it is cheaper. And yes, a lot of it is crap, but then, so is a lot of the food in the UK and Europe

I did allude to that, yes.

Cheap is not always good - and expensive is not always worth it.

A friend of mine said to me, "East what you like but prepare it yourself".

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Thanks everyone for your views so far

I'll always seek to tip where I can (restaurants, hairdresser etc) and when I think it's appropriate / warranted. As someone said it's strange that you tip the waiter and not the chef etc. but I guess the base salary is different to allow for that.

Thanks Courtney for the U.S. perspective too, where it doesn't quite sit right with me and my little England approach to things is the notion that poor service should still be tipped, albeit at a lower %! All seems a little alien to me but I do appreciate the base wage is exceptionally low

I guess my wider point is that this can be a significant 'hidden' cost of a vacation. I'm adding literally hundreds of pounds to my projected costs based on 15-20% tipping on meals and excursions etc

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I just don't tip.

It's not something I believe is required.

People shouldn't expect tips.

I always thought a tip was like a bonus you got for going above and beyond for a customer.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I just don't tip.

It's not something I believe is required.

People shouldn't expect tips.

I always thought a tip was like a bonus you got for going above and beyond for a customer."

Alright, Mr. Pink.

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By *obbytupperMan
over a year ago

Menston near Ilkley

As someone who spent a lifetime in the catering industry I feel qualified to speak on this matter.

The system of little basic wage and reliance on gratuities keeps staff on their toes and leads to excellent service in most cases.

Waiting staff on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for instance are paid $50 per month yet a hard working and attentive individual can earn $4 to 5 thousand dollars per month.

All Passengers are asked to fill in a comments card before the final day of their cruise and the results of the comment cards determines the size of the waiters station (and his earnings potential) for the following weeks cruise.

Believe me, the system works and works well.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Can't remember the last time I tipped someone. Only if I think service is exceptional or someone has gone out of their way to ensure good customer service.

And In a case like that I would usually contact the owners or management of wherever and give a compliment regarding the service I have received.

I think just expecting a tip for doing one's job correctly is rude and quite appalling.

In most cases the people I would be tipping are probably earning as much if not more than myself anyway.

Would you tip a builder or mechanic or kitchen fitter?

I doubt most would.

So why tip a waiter or taxi driver?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I just don't tip.

It's not something I believe is required.

People shouldn't expect tips.

I always thought a tip was like a bonus you got for going above and beyond for a customer.

Alright, Mr. Pink. "

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"I just don't tip.

It's not something I believe is required.

People shouldn't expect tips.

I always thought a tip was like a bonus you got for going above and beyond for a customer."

So nobody ever goes above and beyond for you?

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By *oddamnCouple
over a year ago

leicestershire

I don't tip if I am travelling for work. I can eat out 10 times a week and couldn't afford to tip every time. After all, I am working too. (Albeit eating a steak but still there because of work not through choice)

Two things that really annoy me though are service charges at buffet restaurants, where I am fetching the food, and when the menu is in french to be pretentious but the part about tips not being included is in English.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I don't tip if I am travelling for work. I can eat out 10 times a week and couldn't afford to tip every time. After all, I am working too. (Albeit eating a steak but still there because of work not through choice)

Do you not feel embarrassed having received exceptional service and a great steak to then just say "I'm on a work trip, I don't actually WANT this, I have to have this"?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I just don't tip.

It's not something I believe is required.

People shouldn't expect tips.

I always thought a tip was like a bonus you got for going above and beyond for a customer.

Alright, Mr. Pink. "

Haha!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I will always tip unless the service is awful.

On holiday in America, we definitely tipped at least 15% & I don't remember a time when I didn't think they deserved it regardless of the basic wage argument.

The service over there in restaurants is a hell of a lot better than here.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

usually tip - if the service was just ok and the bill was say 38 - round it up to 40 - if well deserved give the 10 % plus - but if iad i wont tip at all - its extra not in the price and not compulsory - i dont care if they are pissed off and i wouldnt go back there again

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

"I will always tip unless the service is awful.

On holiday in America, we definitely tipped at least 15% & I don't remember a time when I didn't think they deserved it regardless of the basic wage argument.

The service over there in restaurants is a hell of a lot better than here."

Cod wages are crap and staff rely on tips to make a decent income.

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By *uby0000Woman
over a year ago

hertfordshire

I always tip 10%

went to dinner years ago with a bloke who was trying to impress my parents he hadn't got enough money so i gave him the money to pay without them knowing id paid and yet he refused to tip !!!stingy bugger

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By *irtyGirlWoman
over a year ago

Edinburgh

I've worked as a waitress many moons ago so I always tip. Generally the tips go into a jar and we shared them with all the staff at the end of the night so the chefs, the bar staff, the kitchen porters and the waiting staff got a share.

I tip taxi drivers because my Dad was a cabbie for years.

I tip my hairdresser because the salon charges/makes a fortune and she gets a shitty wage. And I love her cause she does a great job.

I tip when it's deserved and because I'm generous. I can afford to I guess. If I was unable to afford it then I think I'd not be eating out in the first place.

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